How to stop the bloodshed

In direct response to the city's record-setting number of homicides in 2012, the Stockton Police Department has developed an internal Homicide Reduction Plan.

The plan breaks down the violent act of murder by motive and other factors in order to aid law enforcement in reducing similar homicides from occurring in the future. It organizes the department's ability to respond based on the resources it has at its disposal and those available in the community, including public and private agencies that address mental health and community services.

The plan establishes regular meetings with stakeholders such as the District Attorney's Office, sheriff, Community Partnership for Families, school districts, state parole, county probation and mental health services to develop ideas on how to reduce homicides.

Some of the tactics it is considering include stricter enforcement of referrals to community programs and a stronger focus on education.

"It's the first time I can remember breaking it down to this level so we can look at each motive, and within the component of the motive, see not only what law enforcement can do to reduce similar-type homicides but what other agencies such as faith-based organizations, mental health and community groups can do," said Officer Joe Silva, the Police Department's spokesman.

"Having a plan like this is a more formalized, organized approach than we've taken before," Silva said.

"It is a concern to the Police Department so that is why we wanted to take a more in-depth look at the root causes," he said.

The plan incorporates all the resources the department has implemented to date, including Operation Ceasefire, formation of the Countywide Gang Task Force with the cooperation of the Sheriff's Office, and inviting the California Highway Patrol to assist on the streets.

Motives such as gang-related issues - that accounted for roughly 50 percent of last year's killings - and robberies might take different approaches to prevent. Child abuse, domestic violence, narcotics and personal disputes are other motives that involve problems where counseling, intervention, rehabilitation or more education might help reduce the most extreme levels of violence.

With information provided by parole or probation officers who deal directly with past offenders, for instance, one client might be required to attend an anger-management program. A school in a violence-prone neighborhood might get more support for an existing after-school program that could be the difference-maker to an 11-year-old considering the gang life.

"Finding the right strategy to combat the different levels of violence is difficult. Many of these cases are referred, and there needs to be follow-up. We are going to refer these people to an appropriate program because we do believe these types of programs will continue to have a positive impact," Silva said.

In designated crime hot spots that have become accustomed to violence, the department's relatively new Community Response Team with its flexible approach to policing can provide proactive enforcement and high-visibility patrols down to the micro level.

The Homicide Reduction Plan recognizes the importance of adult role models. The Police Department sponsors a summer camp at McKinley Center, "because we understand the importance that it makes for youth to have positive role models in their lives, whether it is a family member, a coach, a music teacher or a police officer," Silva said. "Kids need someone they can look up to. If they don't, in some areas there's a high possibility of getting recruited into a gang, and that is something none of us at the Police Department or the community as a whole want to see."

"Look how challenging it is right now," Freitas said. "If you don't have police officers on the street making car stops and finding weapons, you don't have guns being taken off the street.

"Then there are the challenges that AB109 (prison realignment) has put on our (county) jail. People who should be incarcerated are out committing violent crimes. The waiting-for-criminals-to-become-tired policy isn't going to work," he said. "It's almost as fruitless as waiting for them to run out of bullets. What's needed is good solid law enforcement with personnel. It's fundamental to bringing safety back to our community."

During 2012, Stockton officers confiscated 932 firearms off the streets. That's considerably more than the 701 guns they confiscated in 2011.

"So we know we have prevented some types of crimes and potential homicides from happening by the confiscation of those weapons," Silva said. "It's getting back to proactive police work."